NIR-Reflective Black Photonic Films Designed for Effective LiDAR Recognition.

Conventional dark-tone paints absorb both visible light and near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths, posing a challenge for light detection and ranging (LiDAR) recognition in autonomous driving. To overcome this issue, various chemical and structural coating materials have been explored to selectively reflect NIR. In this study, we newly propose colloidal photonic crystals with a stopband in the NIR range, fabricated through the spontaneous formation of crystalline arrays of silica particles dispersed in a photocurable resin, as a potential solution.

Interobserver agreement analysis among renal pathologists in classification of lupus nephritis using a digital pathology image dataset: after a third evaluation.

Background: Lupus nephritis is well-known for low concordance in classification. Furthermore, there has been no agreement analysis among Korean renal pathologists regarding lupus nephritis. Inconsistent diagnosis leads to confusion and increases medical costs, as well as failure of appropriate therapeutic interventions.

Tailoring high-refractive-index nanocomposites for manufacturing of ultraviolet metasurfaces.

Nanoimprint lithography (NIL) has been utilized to address the manufacturing challenges of high cost and low throughput for optical metasurfaces. To overcome the limitations inherent in conventional imprint resins characterized by a low refractive index (), high- nanocomposites have been introduced to directly serve as meta-atoms. However, comprehensive research on these nanocomposites is notably lacking.

Hydrogels for active photonics.

Conventional photonic devices exhibit static optical properties that are design-dependent, including the material's refractive index and geometrical parameters. However, they still possess attractive optical responses for applications and are already exploited in devices across various fields. Hydrogel photonics has emerged as a promising solution in the field of active photonics by providing primarily deformable geometric parameters in response to external stimuli.

Clinicopathologic characteristics of neuroendocrine tumors with assessment by digital image analysis for Ki-67 index with a focus on the gastroenteropancreatic tract: a single-center study.

Objectives: Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are a heterogeneous group of tumors that arise at various sites throughout the body. The gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) tract is the most common site of NETs. We investigated the clinicopathologic features of patients with GEP-NETs and the utility of digital image analysis, which was compared to eyeball estimation, a conventional method used to determine the Ki-67 labeling index.

Inhibition of lysyl oxidase‑like 2 ameliorates folic acid‑induced renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis.

Tubulointerstitial fibrosis is characterized by accumulation of the extracellular matrix in the interstitium. Lysyl oxidase-like 2 (LOXL2), a member of the lysyl oxidase family, is known for promoting cancer metastasis, invasion and stromal fibrosis in various organs. Our previous study demonstrated expression of LOXL2 in kidney podocytes and tubular epithelial cells, and the association between elevated LOXL2 and tubulointerstitial fibrosis.

Three-dimensional artificial chirality towards low-cost and ultra-sensitive enantioselective sensing.

Artificial chiral structures have potential applications in the field of enantioselective signal sensing. Advanced nanofabrication methods enable a large diversity in geometric structures and broad selectivity of materials, which can be exploited to manufacture artificial three-dimensional chiral structures. Various chiroptical phenomena exploiting spin and orbital angular momentum at the nanoscale have been continuously exploited as a way to effectively detect enantiomers.

Photonic Encryption Platform Dual-Band Vectorial Metaholograms in the Ultraviolet and Visible.

Metasurface-driven optical encryption devices have attracted much attention. Here, we propose a dual-band vectorial metahologram in the visible and ultraviolet (UV) regimes for optical encryption. Nine polarization-encoded vectorial holograms are observed under UV laser illumination, while another independent hologram appears under visible laser illumination.

The Effect of Interleukin-4 and Dexamethasone on RNA-Seq-Based Transcriptomic Profiling of Human Podocytes: A Potential Role in Minimal Change Nephrotic Syndrome.

Interleukin-4 (IL-4) expression is implicated in the pathogenesis of nephrotic syndrome (NS). This study aimed to investigate the changes in the transcriptomes of human podocytes induced by IL-4 treatment and to analyze whether these changes could be affected by simultaneous steroid treatment. Three groups of human podocytes were treated with control, IL-4, and IL-4 plus dexamethasone (DEX), respectively.

Lysyl oxidase‑like 2 is expressed in kidney tissue and is associated with the progression of tubulointerstitial fibrosis.

Tubulointerstitial fibrosis is a common end point of chronic kidney diseases, and preventing its progression is key to avoiding renal failure. Transforming growth factor‑β (TGF‑β) and associated molecules promote tubulointerstitial fibrosis; however, effective therapies targeting these molecules have yet to be developed. Lysyl oxidase‑like 2 (LOXL2), which is involved in invasive growth and metastasis of malignant neoplasms, has recently been reported to serve a key role in hepatic and pulmonary fibrosis.

MMHD [(S,E)-2-methyl-1-(2-methylthiazol-4-yl) hexa-1,5-dien-ol], a novel synthetic compound derived from epothilone, suppresses nuclear factor-kappaB-mediated cytokine expression in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated BV-2 microglia.

The effects of MMHD [(S,E)-2-methyl-1-(2-methylthiazol-4-yl) hexa-1,5-dien-ol], a novel synthetic compound derived from epothilone, was investigated for its effects on the expression of proinflammatory mediators in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated BV-2 microglia. MMHD attenuated the expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA and protein without affecting cell viability. Moreover, MMHD suppressed nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation via the translocation of p65 into the nucleus.